How will Coronavirus affect private yacht charters? In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know you’re looking for the most up-to-date information about yacht charter and future social distancing superyacht vacations.

We are committed to bringing you the latest official advice, updates on local travel restrictions and Coronavirus-related superyacht news to help you stay safe and informed until you’re ready to book and get back out on the water.

Coronavirus Yacht Charter Questions - Q & A

As most clients have signed charter agreements before any of us were aware of COVID-19, there were no measures in place to protect the client from such an incident.

The best advice we can give you today is to reach out to your charter broker, and request that they contact the owner of the yacht and kindly request an Addendum that would allow the rescheduling of the charter for up to one year from the originally scheduled dates. In this way, you protect your initial deposit and delay your next deposit until 30 days out from your new scheduled date.

Many Owners are allowing this type of Addendum with absolutely no penalty fees. Keep in mind owners are under no legal obligation to do so, but most want to find an amicable solution for themselves and the client.

Yachts are already extremely sanitary, and are typically maintained to a much higher hygiene standard than ships or cruises. Yacht crew work tirelessly to ensure a clean environment on board, both in the crew areas and the guest areas.

On top of this, yacht captains are being extremely vigilant and cautious about potential exposure to the Coronavirus.

These are just some of the precautions being taken by some Captains:

- Daily temperature checks for crew

- Sanitization of the yacht before and after new charters

- Sanitization of provisions and new methods put in place to limit contact between crew and workers providing provisions (eg. leaving and sanitizing provisions on the dock)

A yacht charter is the ultimate way to enjoy a vacation while still maintaining social distancing. You can still enjoy the freedom of discovering new destinations, while surrounded by your loved ones and a small crew to provide you with five-star service. A yacht is also equipped with the best leisure and entertainment facilities, so you can expect hours of fun and relaxation aboard your very own charter yacht.

Some yachts are offering penalty-free cancellation and postponement policies, meaning it’s possible to book a yacht charter now and cancel at a later date under certain circumstances. Each contract will vary, so be sure to ask your broker to help you find the right one for you.

We have rounded up a selection of superyachts which are available to charter with penalty-free cancellations and postponements on our site, allowing you to book your next yachting vacation with peace of mind.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-COV-2, which is the name of a new (or novel) virus that belongs to the Human Coronavirus family.

It has caused a global pandemic, and there is currently no vaccine available. It is highly contagious, as it can spread through water droplets even when patients are asymptomatic (ie. not displaying any symptoms.)

How did the new Coronavirus outbreak occur?
Coronavirus is a zoonotic disease (or zoonosis), meaning it’s caused by a pathogen found in animals that’s made the leap to human beings through a series of genetic mutations.

SARS-COV-2 is thought to have originated at a live animal market in Wuhan, China. Researchers believe that the virus developed in bats, and mutated (or ‘amplified’) with a virus present in another wild animal such as a pangolin. This mutation acts as a stepping stone for the virus to be transmitted to human beings.

There are seven groups of Human Coronavirus known to infect humans. As well as SARS-COV-2, the virus family is also responsible for outbreaks such as SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012. Each virus affects humans differently, with different transmission rates and case fatality rates (CFR).

What is being done to eradicate COVID-19?
When a vaccine is developed, SARS-COV-2 can be eradicated through mass vaccination. Routine immunization programmes are the safest way to achieve herd immunity within society.

In the meantime, safety interventions such as government lockdowns, quarantine, and social distancing have been implemented around the world to slow the infection rate and "flatten the curve".

If these measures are not implemented, the new case rate for the novel Coronavirus increases on an exponential curve, doubling every few days.

Can I still go on vacation?
You can still go on vacation during the Coronavirus pandemic, providing travel restrictions aren't in place and you are not under lockdown. However, until a vaccine for SARS-COV-2 is developed and distributed, travel and vacations will look very different as the worlds learns to adjust to socially distruptive safety measures.

One of the most commonly-used safety measures is Social Distancing (also known as physical distancing). This involves keeping 6ft of distance between you and other people, and not gathering in large groups. Some researchers also recommend medical face masks to limit risk of exposure.

Social Distaning Vacations are expected to become the new normal for travellers across the globe. Private yacht charter is one of the few forms of travel that allows for Social Distancing, as superyachts are controlled, self-contained environments.

Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3187 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3187 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

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